Louisburg College - Oak Yearbook (Louisburg, NC)

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The Foreword When the county of Franklin was formed in 177!) three commissioners were appointed to locate the county scat ami provide for the needs of the town and county. They purchased one hundred acres at the Fords of the Tar. and here lias developed the town of Louisburg. These were wise men in that they at once made provision for the education of youth. On the elevation overlooking the lords and surrounding country twenty-six acres of land were reserved for school purposes. The principal street of the city now divides the lot into halves, one of which became the property of the city schools. The other was secured by the Louisburg Female College Corporation, now Louisburg College. In 1 77! a suitable building was erected and Franklin Academy for Males and Females started on its career of usefulness under the guiding hand of Matthew Diekerson. the maternal uncle of David Dudley Field. The charter was ranted in 1 7 S i . but a few years later it was thought best to separate the male and female depart- ments, and in 1802 the Louisburg Female Seminary was chartered. The school has had all the struggles incident to private and unendowed institutions, but at no time lias its service to the commonwealth been small. In 1855 the people of Louisburg realized that the Louisburg Female Seminary could not meet the demands of the time; that the time had arrived when young women should be given higher educational advantages. To meet this demand a joint-stock company was organized and chartered by the Legislature under the name of the Louisburg Female College Company, the object of which was to establish a college of high standard for young women. Two years later the new college opened as a private enterprise. In 1891 the property came into the hands of the greathearted Washington Duke, and was held by him for the education of North Carolina women during the re- mainder of his natural life. In 1!)07, on the death of Mr. Duke, the property was given to the North Carolina Methodist Conference by his son. Benjamin Duke. In 1908 the college property was accepted by a Board of Trustees, acting under the authority of the Conference. In September 1931, Louisburg College became a coeducational institution, thus doubling its possibility of service. Five

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Contents i THE COLLEGE II CLASSES III ORGANIZATIONS FEATURES JOKES AND ADS I ' mir

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IN MEMORIAM WILLIAM EDGAR WHITE, SR. June 30. 1874-February 1, 1938 Louisburg College 1ms been operating as a school tor a hundred and titty years. During that time people of rare character and genius have been associated with the College and the College community. They have made their contribution here and have, for the most part, moved to another world and passed into the traditions of the College. There lias never been a more loyal soul connected with Louisburg College than Mr. W. E. White. Even before he served as a member of the Board of Trustees. he was generally known as one of the best friends that this cause had. On February 1. 1938 Mr. White crossed the border line and took up citizenship in heaven. He was a man of simple and kind heart. Louisburg College is richer for his friendship and loyalty. We join the whole community in mourning the loss of one of the best men that the community has produced.